AI Ambitions Meet Rural Resistance in Rocky View County
- ClearView Insider
- Sep 30
- 1 min read
As Alberta accelerates efforts to become a global hub for artificial intelligence data centres, a major proposal just hit a local roadblock. Rocky View County Council voted 6–1 to reject a 448-hectare AI data centre project northeast of Calgary, citing farmland loss, water use concerns, and insufficient technical details.
The project—backed by Kineticor Asset Management and Montreal-based operator eStruxture—was to include six data centres, an on-site reservoir, and power infrastructure over a 15–20 year buildout. Despite already securing grid allocation for phase one, public opposition was strong: over 50 presenters voiced concerns about stormwater drainage, farmland preservation, and long-term water security.
With high-class agricultural land at stake and potential daily water demands comparable to a mid-sized town, the project’s location—not its concept—sparked fierce community pushback. While Alberta’s strategy to attract AI infrastructure is gaining global attention, this outcome signals a growing tension between tech ambition and rural priorities.
Source: CBC News. “Alberta wants to become an AI data centre hub, but this rural county just rejected a big proposal.” August 27, 2025. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/rocky-view-county-data-centre-proposal-1.7630860
Connect with ClearView: Want to understand how Alberta’s AI infrastructure strategy could reshape land use and real estate patterns across the Calgary region? We’re here to help you navigate the intersection of data hubs and real estate. Email us at: info@cvpartners.ca